Rothschildia lebeau forbesi female, Texas,
February 18, 2014, courtesy of Jeff Keverline.
Hi All,
Just about all overwintering livestock has been sold out. All that remains is what I list below at special discount prices:
Rothschildia lebeau forbesi cocoons have been harvested in Texas in good numbers and have been shipped to those who have requested them with additional shipments for most recent orders to go out soon, but to avoid severe cold. There should be lots to go around, based on preliminary reports, and overwintering Eupackardia calleta cocoons are also expected in good numbers. In Texas there are usually two broods of calleta, but Jeff has found that some of his first brood calleta cocoons are going to overwinter with the second brood cocoons. We also found that some of the early spring brood cocoons yielded moths in June.
Rothschildia lebeau forbesi cocoons are also now available from Texas. I am now discounting these two species to $6.00 each to move out large inventory. R. l. forbesi cocoons that were not refrigerated in Texas have begun to emerge (February 18), yielding females with reduced red and white, expecially in the basal am line area. Eggs of this species are available now and will probably be available throughout most of March.
Rothschildia lebeau forbesi female, Texas,
February 18, 2014, courtesy of Jeff Keverline.
Jeff also still has polyphemus from Texas at $4.00/cocoon plus one shipping and handling fee of $9.00.
For those of you who have received forbesi cocoons, please note these are from southern Texas where temperatures seldom get below freezing, and, when temperatures do dip below freezing, it is only a slight dip for a short period of time. They should not be stored outdoors for prolonged periods of cold or even short periods of subfreezing temperatures.
If you have a cool spot in your basement, that is where I would keep the overwintering forbesi, fridge crisper would be second choice for forbesi. The same applies to pupae of Citheronia splendens sinaloensis.
My other US shipping partner in Maine still has only a small number (about a dozen) of polyphemus (4.00) cocoons. I do not expect these to last beyond the end of February as there have been many responses to recent mailouts.
I have put a hault to all shipping while the Polar Vortex hs the northeastern part of the country in a deep freeze. Shipping will resume when we have some warmer temperatures. I have requested shippers to send out some parcels on February 17. I will alert you by email when your order has been sent.
I recently received word that cecropia cocoons are available from New Jersey, and I have directed breeder to ship forty of them to Texas for inspection before offering them to membership.
I should know very soon if the cecropia are of suitable size and vigor. Let me know if you are interested.
Most of the cecropia are small but healthy and I am offering the small ones at $4.00/cocoon and the average ones at $6.50.
Brian Fletcher has sent some nice Saturniidae and Sphingidae images from southern Ecuador:
Citheronia bellavista cinerea, Sorzoranga, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 1600m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher.
Citheronia bellavista cinerea (?? melanic specimen??),
Urraca Lodge, Jorupe Reserve, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 500m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher.
Caio harrietae, Urraca Lodge, Jorupe Reserve, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 500m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher, id by Bill Oehlke.
Syssphinx quadrilineata occlusa , Umbrellabird Lodge, Jocotoco Foundation Buenaventura Reserve,
near Pinas, El Oro, Ecuador,
February 28, 2014, 1200m, tentative id by Bill Oehlke
Eacles tyrannus , Umbrellabird Lodge, Jocotoco Foundation Buenaventura Reserve,
near Pinas, El Oro, Ecuador,
February 28, 2014, 1200m, id by Bill Oehlke
Dysdaemonia boreas male, Umbrellabird Lodge, Jocotoco Foundation Buenaventura Reserve,
near Pinas, El Oro, Ecuador,
February 28, 2014, 1200m, id by Bill Oehlke
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Leroy Simon has sent some beautiful images of newly emerged Hemileuca hualapai.
Hemileuca hualapai, Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.
Hemileuca hualapai, Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.
Christian Kutzscher has given me access to the images of specimens in the Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut Collection. I will be posting images of those species or genders of species not previously depicted on WLSS.
Bunaea caffraria female, courtesy of Christian Kutzscher,
from SDEI - Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut Collection
Neodipthera monacha male, courtesy of Christian Kutzscher,
from SDEI - Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut Collection
Neodipthera monacha female, courtesy of Christian Kutzscher,
from SDEI - Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut Collection,
extensive digital repair to marginal areas of all wings by Bill Oehlke
Hyperchiria plicata male, courtesy of Christian Kutzscher,
from SDEI - Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut Collection
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For the first time on WLSS, the female of Syssphinx gomezi is depicted courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.
Syssphinx gomezi female, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel
Another first:
Automeris boudinotiana female, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.
On February 17, Matthew Nochisaki had a male luna emerge from non-refrigerated diapausing stock he received in the fall. He kept his cocoons indoors at room temperature. I suspect the warmth and increasing photo period allowed the moth to break diapause, develop and emerge.
Actias luna male, diapausing stock that was not cooled in fall or winter,
eclosed indoors, February 17, 2014, Connecticut, courtesy of Matthew Nochisaki.
Jurgen Vanhoudt sends this beautiful image of a reared female Cricula trifenestrata from northeastern Thailand.
The female eclosed February 13.
Cricula trifenestrata female, reared, northeastern Thailand,
February 13, 2014, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.
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For the first time on WLSS a live female of Arsenura archianassa is depicted courtesy of Andreas Kay. I will shortly be processing many images from Andreas from Los Cedros, Imabaura, Ecuador.
John Christensen writes,
"If any WLSS members are looking for a butterflying/mothing adventure this year, I'm planning to head to Peru in May 2014 on this 10-day trip: http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/Birding/Peru_Tours.aspx?TOUR=Butterflies-satipo&idtourk=193.
"The trip visits Rio Shima, a butterfly hotspot that has been baited by collectors for years where one can see hundreds of species (previous trip reports suggest that you can expect to see about 400 species within yards of the camp!). Satipo Road has diverse butterfly populations as well as numerous rare bird species (and the guide is a birding enthusiast). The specific dates are May 19-28, 2014.
"I'm not affilitated with the tour group, nor have I ever travelled with them, but I'm trying to advertise the trip to ensure there are enough participants for the trip to happen (and to keep costs down since the pricing is dependent on the number of participants). I've requested with the tour leader, Gunnar Engblom, that they bring MV/UV lights for nighttime mothing, so hopefully we'll attract some interesting peruvian Saturniidae for photography. Note that this is not a collecting trip. For more on the tour group (which specializes in birding), see their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/KolibriExpeditions
"If anyone would like to contact me directly about this trip, email me at jaspersail@comcast.net.
Thanks,
John Christensen
Jasper Sailfin Photography
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I received Saturnafrica Journal #15 from Erich Bauer and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the images, much nicer than in Philippe's Saturniidae I and Saturniidae II from 1990's.
I also contacted Philippe by email, and he indicated I could order the other journals via Erich Bauer who did not have them listed on his website.
I subsequently ordered journal #'s 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, through Erich and have found the information and images in the journals quite useful. In some cases there are extensive listings (without images) of specimens collected from specific areas in Africa, based on exploratory collecting trips with images of the new discoveries.
In other instances there are images of "new species" discovered amongst the material sent for DNA barcoding analysis. Some of the "new species" are quite cryptic, and would be difficult to distinguish without DNA analysis.
I have been using the information to update national checklists, and am creating WLSS files for the new species where I write my own descriptions based on the images in the journals. I do not have permission to post the images in the journals, but I expect that over the years I will be able to post images submitted by photographers from various African nations and also from travelling collectors who submit their own images or from collectors who have made purchases. WLSS species files will be updated as images arrive.
I will probably purchase the earlier issues and subsequent issues when I have more funds at my disposal.
I have also been purchasing the Entomo-Satsphingia journals and recently received the last issue from 2013 where many new species from Ecuador are depicted and described. The Ecuadorian species are described by Brechlin, Kaech and Meister and include species perhaps not seen before from areas only recently explored for the first time, as well as "new species" uncovered in long standing collections as a result of submissions of samples for DNA barcoding analysis.
The Entomo-Satsphingia journals are in German and I regularly use Google Translate when I come across terms I have not yet learned, but my German is improving.
The Saturnafrica journals are in French and I regularly use Google Translate when I come across terms I have not yet learned, but my French is also improving.
Usually now as I look at an image and read the description, I can figure out what has been written. I do find the decriptions in the Saturnafrica journals more comprehensive.
Pertinent information like dates, elevations, locations, forewing lengths is not hard to decipher. The images in Saturnafrica journals (at least the one mentioned above) are much nicer than the ones in the Entomo-satsphingia journals and the Saturnafrica journals are much sturdier publications, but the number of "new species" described in each Entomo-Satsphingia journal greatly exceeds the number in each Saturnafrica journals, and the Entomo-Satsphingia journals are far less expensive.
I welcome submission of digital images of Saturniidae from around the world for posting on WLSS. I will do my best to provide ids. All images that I post are credited to respective photographers and remain property of those photographers.
I offer free membership in World's Largest Saturniidae Site (WLSS) to anyone who provides images of species not already depicted on site. Currently close to 1500 different species are depicted in over 10,000 digital images of eggs, larvae, cocoons, pupae, adults.
Otherwise there is a one-time-life-time membership fee of $45.00 US, discounted to $30.00 for students or seniors.
There are checklists for just about every country that has Saturniidae populations.
To give some idea of the prices. The Saturnafrica journals have been 58.00 euros each plus postage:
5656 DARGE, P. 2011. Saturnafrica 8. pp. 39, 7 col. plates. 5 papers, mainly on Sphingidae and Saturniidae. 58,00 €
5757 DARGE, P. 2011. Saturnafrica 9. Saturniidae, Charaxes, Lasiocampidae, Lepdidoptera Biodiversity. pp. 27, 6 col. plates 58,00 €
5854 DARGE, P. 2011. Saturnafrica 10 pp. 33 + 5 col. plates. 58,00 €
5968 DARGE, P. 2012. Saturnafrica 13. 39 pp., 8 col. pl. 58,00 €
5967 DARGE, P. 2012. Saturnafrica 12. 41 pp. 7 col. pl. 58,00 €
5963 DARGE, P. 2012. Saturnafrica 11 58,00 €
I received all six of these journals in same package from Erich with shiping at 33e
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Entomo-Satsphingia 5(2) 44,00 Euro
Entomo-Satsphingia 6(1) 22,00 Euro
Entomo-Satsphingia 5(3) 32,00 Euro
Entomo-Satsphingia 5(2) 28,00 Euro
Entomo-Satsphingia 5(1) 26,00 Euro
Entomo-Satsphingia 4(5) 58,00 Euro
Entomo-Satsphingia 3(2) 14,00 Euro
Entomo-Satsphingia 3(1) 24,00 Euro
Shipment: 14,00 Euro
Bill Oehlke
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Kirby Wolfe writes, "Our Giant Silkmoths book is finally being delivered from Amazon.com in the U.S. In Europe it has been selling very well and is being translated into German. It is now no.2 of Insect & Spider books for Amazon Canada, and it hasn't even been released there yet. Here's the URL for the U.S.: http://www.amazon.com/The-Giant-Silkmoths-Mimicry-Camouflage/dp/1906506256/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332781819&sr=1-1
"I imagine many of your members would be interested in this book, which is large coffee table format with over 100 color photos of live saturniids, and is very reasonably priced. The reviews in Great Britain, where it has been available since early November, have been filled with superlatives."
I (Bill Oehlke) have read some commentary on the new book, and it has all been very good. Check it out!.
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Sphingidae Express
Christian Kutzscher recently sent me the following image for identification. It is a nicer image than the only other one (at the time) of this species on display of Sphingidae of the Americas website.
For the first time on Sphingidae of the Americas, live specimens of several species are depicted:
Eumorpha satellitia licaon, Urraca Lodge, Jorupe Reserve, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 500m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher, id by Bill Oehlke.
Manduca camposi, Sorzoranga, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 1600m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher, id by Bill Oehlke
Hemeroplanes ornatus, Copalinga Lodge, Podocarpus NP, Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador,
February 5, 2014, 1100m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher, id by Bill Oehlke
Eumorpha drucei, Urraca Lodge, Jorupe Reserve, Loja, Ecuador,
January 30, 2014, 500m, courtesy of Brian Fletcher, id by Bill Oehlke.
Catocala Capers
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Please note: I reside in Canada at the following address and payment for Saturniidae livestock (eggs, cocoons, pupae) and/or sleeves must be sent to me only at this address:
Bill Oehlke
Box 476
155 Peardon Road
Montague, Prince Edward Island, C0A 1R0
Canada
Postage from USA to Canada is $1.15 (2014 rate) so please use that amount on your envelope with your payment.
If you are in US and order cocoons or pupae from me this fall or winter, you will probably see a New Jersey return address on the shipping box. Do not send payment to the New Jersey address; send it to name and address above please.
I very much appreciate all the many images that have been sent to me, or of which I have been granted permission to copy and post from other websites. All images on this site remain the property of respective photographers.
If you would like to contribute to the maintenace of this website by sending a contribution to
Bill Oehlke
Box 476
155 Peardon Road
Montague, Prince Edward Island, C0A1R0
Canada
your donation would be much appreciated and would be used for
1) paying for webspace rental;
2) paying for computer maintenance and software upgrades;
3) purchases of additional text reference material (journals and books) in an effort to stay current with new species;
4) helping to pay my daughter's tuition (She has now completed her B.A. (two years ago) and B. Ed. (this spring) and is certified to teach)
and has been working full time as of October-November.
I also hope to expand the North American Catocala site as well as the Sphingidae of the Americas site, to worldwide sites, and that will require additional funds for reference materials, etc. Both of those site are linked from your WLSS homepage.
If you are mailing a check from USA, please use $1.15 postage. Donations can also be made through Paypal via the button below.
Donations are not required to maintain your standing as a WLSS member, nor do they gain you any preferencial treatment with regard to livestock and/or supplies (sleeves), compared to other WLSS members. All WLSS members get first crack at my annual offerings and get an approximate discount of 10% as compared to non-members.
I do usually ask donors if they have any special requests for material on WLSS, and I try to accomodate when appropriate or within my ability to do so.